Pehlivan (1984)
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Directors
Cast
Tarık Akan, Meral Orhonsay, Erol Günaydin, Ahmet Kayiskesen
A struggling family man sees traditional wrestling as a possible path to a better life.
The story
Bilal works various jobs to support his wife, two children, and elderly father, while hoping to go to Libya as a worker. As he waits for his turn, Mestan, a local casgır, encourages him to pursue pehlivan wrestling, the profession of Bilal’s father. Bilal believes that becoming champion at Kırkpınar and winning the grand prize could improve his family’s circumstances and increase his income. With help from Uncle Mestan and his master, Tevfik, he prepares for the matches. Early successes give him growing confidence as he tries to make a new livelihood through wrestling.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Bilal (Tarık Akan) takes on various jobs to support his wife, two children, and elderly father. Meanwhile, his greatest hope is to go to Libya as a worker. As he waits his turn, encouraged by Mestan, a casgır who lives in the area, Bilal decides to try his luck at pehlivan wrestling, his father’s profession. He is sure that if he becomes champion at Kırkpınar and wins the grand prize, his circumstances will improve and his income will rise as a successful wrestler. With the help of Uncle Mestan and his master, Tevfik, he prepares for the wrestling matches. The small successes he achieves boost his courage.
Genres
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